Canberra sees the light on energy-saving globes

By Jewel Topsfield

February 20, 2007 — 11.00am

AUSTRALIA will become the first country in the world to phase out conventional light bulbs within three years and replace them with energy-saving globes that use only 20 per cent of the electricity to produce the same amount of light.

Environment Minister Mal-colm Turnbull will announce today that all incandescent light bulbs — which have barely changed since they were introduced 125 years ago and convert only about 5 per cent of the energy they receive into light — will no longer be available to buy in Australia from 2009-10.

The Government predicts the measure could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 800,000 tonnes a year in 2008-12.

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The world-first initiative comes as similar schemes are being considered worldwide.

In California, which leads the world in greenhouse emission reduction initiatives, a lawmaker last month announced he would introduce the "How Many Legislators Does it Take to Change a Light Bulb Act", which would ban the sale of incandescents in California by 2012.

Activists in Britain have also been lobbying Parliament to tax or ban incandescent bulbs, a proposal that has been controversial because it is seen by many as draconian and further evidence of a nanny state.

Mr Turnbull will say he will work with the states and major global light bulb manufacturers to replace traditional bulbs with energy efficient but more expensive alternatives such as compact fluorescent lamps.

Lighting represents about 12 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions from households in Australia and about 25 per cent of commercial sector emissions and emissions from public and street lighting.

Introduced in the 1980s, compact fluorescent lamps come as circular or linear tubes, or have a spiral shape. Most of the flickering and slow starting traditionally associated with fluorescents has been removed.

While they are more expensive to buy — one Phillips brand energy-saver globe costs $7.98 at Safeway, while a two-pack Phillips brand 60-watt clear globe costs $1.75 — they have a longer life and use less electricity.

Mr Turnbull will today say compact fluorescent lights will pay for themselves within a year, last up to 10 times longer than conventional bulbs and save more than 66 per cent in lighting costs. He will say the phase-out will make a big dent in household emissions and could also have major international benefits.

While fluorescent lights are seen as a crucial part of the fight against greenhouse gas emissions because they use about a quarter of the energy, they contain trace elements of mercury.

This is not enough to pose a danger to users but it could become a concern at landfills, where the mercury from crushed bulbs could escape and contribute to air and water pollution.

The announcement comes as the Government is under pressure from Labor for failing to act quickly enough on climate change, while ministers scrap over the extent humans are to blame for global warming.